Fire damages garage in northwest Cedar Rapids

Two vehicles and thousands of dollars in tools were lost when a fire destroyed a garage in northwest Cedar Rapids.

Chris Walker, 22, started a fire in the wood-burning stove of the garage at 1317 Sixth Street NW after kerosene heater ran out of fuel, fire department spokesman Greg Buelow said. After Walker went into the house, his mother noticed smoke coming from the garage's roof.

Walker called 911 at 2:13 p.m., and firefighters arrived to find the garage fully involved. They prevented then fire from spreading to nearby buildings, but the roof collapsed while they fought the blaze. The garage and its contents, including a 1986 Chevrolet pickup, a 1998 Mercury Mystique, and mechanic's tools, were a total loss.

There were no injuries. Firefighters determined the fire started near the wood burner, where flammable materials may have been left too close to the stove.

The property is owned by Robert and Dianna La Hue.